| Izumi | (It’s a few days after the match with Ryuga. Iori spots Touma passing in front of his shop and naturally calls out to him.) |
| Iori | “…Ah, Touma-kun! |
| You haven’t come to my shop lately, so I was worried.” |
| “Oh right. I found some interesting parts recently. |
| If you’d like, why don’t you have a look inside—.” |
| Touma | “Sorry… I’ve already quit skating.” |
 |
| Iori | “Ehh!” |
| “Touma-kun… don’t tell me, during your race with Ryuga… |
| I heard the rumours as well, but…” |
| Touma | “…” |
| Iori | “I see… well, if you decide to skate again, I’ll do maintenance on your board. So drop by anytime.” |
| Touma | “Thanks. If that time ever comes.” |
| |
| Shion | “I haven’t seen Touma in a while.” |
| Akito | “Even if I invite him, he doesn’t come out since he says he’s not qualified to teach me.” |
 |
| Shion | “…” |
| “Because Touma taught me, I’m able to do this much. That means Touma has a gift for teaching!” |
| Akito | “Shion… that’s right! Actually, I haven’t been taught everything yet either!” |
| Shion | “But how can we get Touma to realize that?” |
| Hazuki | “…You over there.” |
 |
| Akito | “Me? Who are you?” |
| Hazuki | “I’m Hazuki. |
| The truth is, I was watching your friend’s race with Ryuga the other day.” |
| Akito | “Eh, you were!?” |
| Hazuki | “…You’re all scuffed up from skateboard practise too, huh?” |
| “Ryuga doesn’t understand what’s truly important about skating. |
| He’s so obsessed with victory and defeat that he’s changed.” |
| “He’s even went as far as to say getting beaten by him is a happy thing since he’s strong.” |
| Akito | “Yeah, he did say that back then…” |
| Hazuki | “But it’s not the injuries that are inflicted on you by someone else—it’s the bruises you get as a result of your own hard work that make you proud.” |
| “…I’m sure you understand that, don’t you?” |
| Akito | “…” |
| Hazuki | “…” |
| Akito | “Wait! How do you know Ryuga so well!?” |
| Hazuki | “… |
| …We used to be friends.” |
| Akito | “Ah… he left.” |
| Shion | “That guy is Ryuga’s friend…?” |
| Akito | “They used to be friends… that means now…” |
| Shion | “What are you gonna do?” |
| Akito | “…I’ll go see Touma one more time.” |
| Shion | “Hmph, I thought so.” |
| Izumi | (Hazuki has a complicated, downcast, and lonely expression… |
| I expect nothing less from Masumi-kun. He can skillfully handle such subtle acting.) |
| |
| (A few days after their meeting with Hazuki…) |
| Shion | “Hey, hey. Come out, Touma! Let’s skate! |
| Touma | “I…” |
| Akito | “It’s fine! I haven’t been taught yet!” |
 |
| Touma | “…But.” |
| Akito | “Pretty please!” |
| Touma | “…Just this once…” |
| |
| Touma | “Like this—.” |
| Akito | “Like this? Uwahh!” |
 |
| *falls* |
| Akito | “Ow, ow, ow… ahh, that was going so well too.” |
| Touma | “I knew it. You won’t get any better with me teaching you…” |
| Akito | “Even so!” |
| Touma | “…?” |
| Akito | “Even so, it’s more fun to skate, fall, and get all scratched up with you, Touma!” |
| Touma | “!” |
| Akito | “The reason I thought skating was cool for the first time, and the reason I've been having so much fun and got so hooked that I can’t stop—.” |
| “It’s because you opened my eyes to all of it, Touma.” |
| Touma | “Akito…” |
| Akito | “So let’s skate together!” |
| Touma | “…!” |
| “Sorry. You’re right, I gotta have fun… |
| Haha, I forgot such a crucial thing.” |
| Akito | “Hehe…!” |
| Shion | “Alright, have you made up now? Let’s skate together.” |
| Akito | “Hell yeah! My goal today is not to fall!” |
| Shion | “Eh? Isn’t that a low bar?” |
| Touma | “Ahahaha!” |
| Izumi | (The smiles they have on their faces are radiant. Akito, Touma, and Shion—each of their thoughts and the friendship they share is conveyed.) |
